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We campaign against the industrialisation of Loch Etive and the resulting damage done to the loch and its surroundings. The dramatic increase in fish farming over recent years threatens the local wildlife, particularly the stocks of wild fish, damages the environment and the natural beauty of the area and causes water, air, noise and light pollution.
Become a memberThe timeline below shows the planning applications which Dawnfresh has filed with Argyll and Bute Council since 2012 to drastically expand its fish farming activities on Loch Etive. This is what we need your help to prevent. Repeated applications can drain our energy and wear us down but we are determined to fight this attempt to turn Loch Etive into industrial wasteland for the benefit of one company which is intent on exploiting the resources that should belong to the local community at large irrespective of how much money or influence they wield.
18/01125/PP | Use of land to accommodate the temporary storing of aquaculture equipment for undertaking maintenance (retrospective) | Land West Of Dawnfresh Farming Loch Etive Trout Farm Inverawe, Taynuilt, Argyll And Bute PA35 1HU
Application summary – Argyll and Bute Council
FoLE Objection – Friends of Loch Etive
Decision: Application Approved
Decision Issued: Wed 22 Aug 2018
Total Consulted: 230 | Comments Received: 279 | Objections: 271 | Supporting: 6
18/01124/MFF | Replacement of 10 x 80m circumference cages with 12 x 80m circumference cages of an alternative design, installation of hopper feed system and biomass of 1545 tonnes | Airds Bay (Etive 4) Loch Etive Argyll And Bute
Application summary – Argyll and Bute Council
FoLE Objection – Friends of Loch Etive
Decision: Application Approved
Decision Issued: Wed 22 Aug 2018
Total Consulted: 338 | Comments Received: 337 | Objections: 329 | Supporting: 7
16/01971/MFF | Expansion of fin fish farm to comprise 10 x 80 metre cages and increase in extent of moorings | Port Na Mine Fish Farm (Etive 3) Inverawe Taynuilt Argyll
Application summary – Argyll and Bute Council
FoLE Objection – Friends of Loch Etive
Decision: Application Approved
Decision Issued: Mon 24 Oct 2016
Total Consulted: 443 | Comments Received: 443 | Objections: 330 | Supporting: 113
15/02607/MFF | Modification of fish farm from 10 No. 80m circumference cages to 12 No. 80m circumference cages including increase in extent of mooring area (no increase in biomass). | Sailean Ruadh (Etive 6) Loch Etive Argyll And Bute
Application summary – Argyll and Bute Council
FoLE Objections – Friends of Loch Etive
Decision: Refuse
Decision Issued: Thu 25 Feb 2016
Total Consulted: 411 | Comments Received: 408 | Objections: 225 | Supporting: 183
15/01814/MFF | Modification to existing fish farm site, including increase and alterations to moorings extent, addition of 2 x 80 metre circumference cages and siting of feed barge | Airds Bay (Etive 4) Loch Etive Argyll And Bute
Application summary – Argyll and Bute Council
FoLE Objection– Friends of Loch Etive
Decision: Application Withdrawn
Decision Issued: Mon 26 Oct 2015
Total Consulted: 294 | Comments Received: 291 | Objections: 164 | Supporting: 126
14/02249/MFF | Modification of existing fin fish farm site comprising 6 additional cages, addition of feed barge and increase of cage sizes from 70 metre circumference to 80 metre circumference and increase in extent of moorings. | Port Na Mine Fish Farm (Etive 3) Inverawe Taynuilt Argyll
Application summary – Argyll and Bute Council
FoLE Objection_1,
FoLE Objection_2– Friends of Loch Etive
Decision: Application Withdrawn
Decision Issued: Thu 18 Dec 2014
Total Consulted: 256 | Comments Received: 272 | Objections: 199 | Supporting: 72
13/01379/MFF | Formation of fin fish (Rainbow Trout) farm comprising 10 No. 80m circumference cages plus installation of feed barge | Sailean Ruadh (Etive 6) Loch Etive Argyll And Bute
Application summary – Argyll and Bute Council
FoLE Objection – Friends of Loch Etive
Decision: Application Approved
Decision Issued: Fri 21 Mar 2014
Total Consulted: 845 | Comments Received: 812 | Objections: 589 | Supporting: 218
12/02095/MFF | Formation of fin fish (Rainbow Trout) farm comprising 14 No. 100m circumference cages plus installation of feed barge | Sailean Ruadh (Etive 6) Loch Etive Argyll And Bute
Application summary – Argyll and Bute Council
Response to Dawnfresh Planning Application – Friends of Loch Etive
Decision: Application Withdrawn
Decision Issued: Fri 28 Jun 2013
Total Consulted: 828 | Comments Received: 837 | Objections: 481 | Supporting: 351
Ensured in 2018 that the Inverawe shoreline can only now be used temporarily for the maintenance and repair of fish farm equipment, for a maximum of three months, and not for general storage of old, disused or redundant fish farm equipment, with a strict watch now being kept on what is stored there.
Successfully fought off an application in 2016 from Dawnfresh for a Certificate of Lawful Use at the Inverawe shoreline, to allow it to continue to use the shoreline for the storage of old and redundant fish farm equipment and other debris, and then assisted the Council in defending itself successfully against another appeal by Dawnfresh to Scottish Ministers
Successfully ensured that new feed equipment at Etive 4 will be a non-reflective dark colour to protect the Etive landscape.
Successfully ensured that a 2018 application for expansion at Etive 4 can only go ahead subject to a strict strategy for the control of sea lice, including a requirement to monitor sea lice on wild fish up to 30km from Loch Etive and ‘stop the job’ if wild fish start to show signs of harm.
Successfully resisted a planning application in 2016 at Etive 6 for two further cages, and then supported the Council in defeating an appeal raised by Dawnfresh with Scottish Ministers.
Successfully resisted applications made to SEPA by Dawnfresh to allow an increase in biomass of farmed fish at its two freshwater sites on Loch Awe, forcing the matter to an appeal, which Dawnfresh later withdrew.
Successfully ensured that two smaller existing farms at Ardchattan (Etive 5) and Inverawe West (Etive 1) were removed in 2016 from Loch Etive as part of the planning permission finally granted for a smaller 10 x 80m cage farm at Sailean Ruadh (Etive 6).
Successfully ensured that the Airds Bay (Etive 4) farm had to be replaced in its initial location closer to the shoreline, after it was moved unlawfully in 2015 further out into open water contrary to its planning permission and Marine (Scotland) Act licence.
Successfully resisted a 2015 application to the Council to permanently moor an automated feed barge in Airds Bay (Etive 4).
Successfully resisted 2014 proposals made to the Council at Inverawe East (Etive 2), to increase the cage number and sizes there from 6 x 60 metre cages to 16 x 80 metre cages, including a permanently moored automated feed barge, with an increase in biomass from 200 tonnes to 2500 tonnes.
Successfully resisted a 2014 application from Dawnfresh to the Council to expand Port Na Mine (Etive 3) from 10 x 70m cages to 16 x 80 m cages with a huge increase in biomass from 458 tonnes to 2500 tonnes with a permanently moored feed barge.
Successfully resisted an application in 2012 made by Dawnfresh for a new 14 x 100m cages farm at Sailean Ruadh (Etive 6), which was then withdrawn by Dawnfresh.
Fought a judicial review at the Court of Session in relation to the new farm at Etive 6.
Submitted detailed representations on two Dawnfresh Planning Appeals made to Scottish Ministers, both of which were ultimately refused.
Represented the Loch Etive community at two Planning Hearings in Oban.
Made detailed and persuasive representations to, and objected to numerous applications made to the Argyll and Bute Council, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Marine Scotland and others, by Dawnfresh, across both Loch Awe and Loch Etive.
Used the law on freedom of information to uncover details of Dawnfresh operations on Loch Awe and Loch Etive, making three separate referrals to the Scottish Information Commissioner, ultimately leading to a 2016 Decision from the Commissioner in favour of the disclosure of relevant information in relation to Etive 6.
Extracted unpublished data from Scottish Government relating to sea lice numbers on Loch Etive farms and producing a detailed sea lice report to inform planners and other regulators in relation to sea lice on the fish farms on Loch Etive.
Provided detailed evidence to both the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Argyll and Bute Council, leading to numerous planning enforcement notices being served by the Council on Dawnfresh and breach of pollution licence by Dawnfresh being recognised by SEPA.
Submitted written evidence to both the Scottish Parliament’s Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee and Rural Economy and Connectivity Committees inquiries into fish farming in 2018.
Generally kept a close watch on Dawnfresh activities across both Loch Awe and Loch Etive, for the benefit of the whole Etive community.
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